Vault: Melissa's friend invented an emotional simulator

Summary

The Bert Show
Episode: Vault: Melissa's Friend Invented an Emotional Simulator
Date: July 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode centers around an exciting and personal connection between one of the Bert Show hosts and the highly anticipated release of “Iron Man 2.” The host shares a story about their friend's unique invention—a sophisticated motion simulator called Simcraft—which has been featured in Tony Stark's basement in the new Iron Man movie. The conversation blends behind-the-scenes tech talk, parenting humor, and the crossover between fandom and real-life innovation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Simcraft Invention and Its Iron Man Cameo

[00:32 - 04:25]

• The host enthusiastically recounts how personal invention ideas—often joked about on the show—can sometimes turn into reality:
  • "We've talked so many times about how, man, if I could invent this... wouldn't it be cool? Right?...a friend of mine has invention this a little more sophisticated than that." – Host (00:50)
• Simcraft is explained as a high-tech motion simulator used by both race car drivers and pilots. The invention provides an incredibly immersive simulation experience:
  • "You're sitting in a seat in a frame where when you're in motion, it's very fluid because the framework allows the seat to move in all kinds of directions." – Host (01:30)
  • The simulator uses multiple, independent screens to enhance realism.
• The host first tried the Simcraft in the friend’s basement, noting its realism compared to other simulators:
  • "With this you actually...feel like you are banking on the side...other things...just kind of shake. Well, this thing...allows the seat to move." – Host (02:03)
• Simcraft’s big milestone: it appears in “Iron Man 2,” as part of Tony Stark’s collection of technological toys in his basement.
  • "There is a Simcraft in Tony Stark's basement...my friend's invention is in Iron Man 2." – Host (02:51)

2. Impact and Hopes for Simcraft

[03:04 - 03:40]

• Jen asks if this exposure could translate into financial success:
  • "Besides that just being cool like ego wise, will that turn into bucks for him eventually?" – Jen (03:04)
• The host is optimistic that being seen in Iron Man’s lair will spark interest and sales:
  • "Because people go, what is that thing?...If you're Iron Man fan...people wonder, well what is that?" – Host (03:09)

3. The Simcraft Party & Film Outing

[03:09 - 03:41]

• The excitement is palpable as the group plans a Simcraft “party” where friends will try the simulator before seeing “Iron Man 2” together:
  • "Friday night we got a whole Simcraft party we're going and we're gonna be playing on the Simcraft and then as a group going to go see Iron Man 2 together." – Host (03:26)

4. Family Dynamics & Pop Culture Parenting

[04:25 - 06:37]

• The conversation shifts to Jen’s family, revealing the complexities of parenting in a pop culture world:
  • Jen’s wife is staunchly against Iron Man toys due to concerns about violence (06:23).
  • Jen recounts being “played” by her son, Hayden, who uses books as a cover to get to buy Iron Man toys:
    • "He used the book to get in the store in order to get the Iron Man." – Jen (05:47)
    • "He talks me into one book and one toy. And I think his initial intention was to go in and get the Iron man mask." – Jen (05:43)
  • The hosts joke about the lengths parents go to satisfy their kids—sometimes without knowing the full story:
    • "As a husband, I sort of checked out. And as a dad, I checked out because it seemed to me so ridiculous..." – Jen (06:05)
• Jen admits being “checked out” when his wife raised her concerns, emphasizing typical moments of marital miscommunication.

5. Easter Egg for Listeners

[06:47 - 07:04]

• The hosts encourage listeners to look for the Simcraft in the upcoming movie scene, turning it into a fun “insider” moment for fans:
  • "When you're looking at Tony Stark's basement, take a look for Simcraft. And that's my friend's adventure right here in Atlanta." – Host (06:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On invention dreams becoming reality:
  “We've talked so many times about how, man, if I could invent this or if I had this great invention, if this would...be something that would be successful...a friend of mine has invention this a little more sophisticated than that.”
  – Host (00:50)
• Describing Simcraft’s immersion:
  “With this you actually, it moves to where you feel like you are banking on the side...other things...just kind of shake. Well, this thing...allows the seat to move.”
  – Host (02:03)
• About the big movie cameo:
  “There is a Simcraft in Tony Stark's basement...my friend's invention is in Iron Man 2 in this movie. Awesome. Isn't that awesome?”
  – Host (02:51)
• On being played by his son:
  “He used the book to get in the store in order to get the Iron Man.”
  – Jen (05:47)
• The parental “checkout” moment:
  “As a husband, I sort of checked out. And as a dad, I checked out because it seemed to me so ridiculous...”
  – Jen (06:05)
• To fans heading to Iron Man 2:
  “When you're looking at Tony Stark's basement, take a look for Simcraft. And that's my friend's adventure right here in Atlanta.”
  – Host (06:52)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:32 – 03:40: Story and explanation of Simcraft, its Iron Man appearance
• 04:25 – 06:37: Parenting humor about Iron Man toys and family dynamics
• 06:47 – 07:04: Call to action for listeners to spot Simcraft in the movie

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Summary

This episode is a warm, funny, and earnest blend of personal story, geek enthusiasm, and family life. Listeners are taken from an invention’s humble basement beginnings to its spotlight in a major motion picture. The Bert Show’s trademark humor and authenticity—especially in the moments about parenting and spousal “check out”—make even the most niche pop culture stories feel relatable and engaging. If you’re headed to see “Iron Man 2,” don’t forget to scan Tony Stark’s lair for a piece of Atlanta ingenuity!

Transcript

[McDonald's Announcer]

All new drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and the Mango Pineapple Refresher with popping Boba. To crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire six. All new drinks are here now at McDonald's.

[Bert]

Refreshers contain caffeine.

[Jen]

You're on the Burt Show.

[Host]

So Jen's been telling you about how Iron man is opening tonight at midnight and of course, Iron Man 2. Iron Man 2, of course, that is opening at midnight tonight that I'm very excited about, obviously, because I'm a geek. And so I will. It's Friday night that I'm actually going to see at night, tonight at midnight. However, I have a personal connection with this movie that I want to share with you guys.

[Bert]

Okay?

[Host]

So I have a friend, you know how we've talked so many times about how, man, if I could invent this or if I had this great invention, if this would, you know, be something that would be successful, wouldn't it be cool? Right? We've had that conversation over and over again. You've, you know, Bert, you've teased about if somebody came to you and said, you know, if I had this invention, will you invest? You know, however much like we tease about the Snuggie and everything. Or the fart blanket. The fart blanket. Right. Well, a friend of mine has invention this a little more sophisticated than that. But a friend of mine for years has been working, he and his wife, on this invention that is called simcraft. Okay. And it's a motion simulator. And I've actually been in this thing where it's kind of a.

[Jen]

You have.

[Host]

It's been whatever it's been in racing. It's like racing simulation, flight simulation. So a lot of race car drivers have tried this out and some pilots have tried this out because it is basically, and I don't know how to describe it, it's in this frame. So you're sitting in a seat in a frame where when you're in motion, it's very fluid because the framework allows the seat to move in all kinds of directions. So for instance, are you watching a

[Jen]

movie in front of you to make

[Host]

it feel like there's like three, I believe it's like three independent screens that kind of give you a landscape view of what you're looking at. So it was a couple years ago that I first tried it in their basement where, I mean, that's where inventions are, right? In People's basement. And so sitting in there playing a racing game and you talk about how we've been at Atlanta Motor Speedway and you drove the cars and how you banked up and how the banking of a racetrack kind of puts you on the side. Well, with this feels like you're gonna fall over to your side, right? Well, with this you actually, it moves to where you feel like you are banking on the side. You instead of like other things that might try to simulate things, it just kind of shakes. Well, this thing, because of the framework allows the seat to move because there's nothing underneath the seat. You know what I'm saying? So anyway, so they have this invention, it's really cool. And they've been shopping around all over the world. Well, ends up they had talked to Marvel, okay, Marvel Comics, who owns Iron Man. And sure enough, when you go to see Iron man tonight or this weekend or whenever you go to see it. And Tony Stark has his basement of all of his toys where he has his motorbikes and his cars and everything. And there is a Simcraft in Tony Stark's basement that he owns. Isn't that cool? And my friend's invention is in Iron Man 2 in this movie. Awesome. Isn't that awesome?

[Jen]

Besides that just being cool like ego wise, will that turn into bucks for him eventually?

[Host]

Well, sure, I'm sure. Because people go, what is that thing? Yeah, because people, yeah, because it is a unique toy. Because I mean it's pretty much, you know, the ultimate, you know, man cave is if you're Iron man fan. I mean Tony Stark is like this, he's big, you know, in collecting all these kind of things. So yeah, people wonder, well what is that? Because I, I recognize the car, I recognize the motorbike. What is that? And then you can find out all more about Simcraft. But it is so exciting for them. So Friday night we got a whole Simcraft party we're going and we're gonna be playing on the Simcraft and then as a group going to go see Iron Man 2 together.

[Jen]

Very cool.

[Host]

So yeah, so I'm very proud of that.

[Bert]

And you guys are gonna be the only ones applauding when they show the first dude walking. One whole row is gonna be like,

[Jen]

here we go, Simc.

[Host]

So my question for people like me who maybe don't know Iron man, who's Tony? Tony Stark is Robert Downey junior's character. Character. And his character, he's a rich guy, he's the owner of a company, a technology company. And so he is a Billionaire. So he has these toys that he's able to collect. All kinds of classic cars and motorbikes and all kinds of fun stuff that he has in his basement. He invented the whole Iron man suit and everything because he's technologically advanced.

[Jen]

I found out last night, I didn't know this until it was too late. That my wife is so anti Iron man, she won't allow.

[Host]

Why?

[Jen]

It was said in passing last night. I really got to talk to her more about it. But on Saturday morning, I took the kids to Target. That's how you know you're a parent when it's nine in the morning and you're at Target buying books and gifts for your kids. So Hayden really wanted this Iron man mask. Right. I didn't even know he was all that into it. I've seen, like, an Iron man toy here or there at the house. So he's really into it. So we go to Target and you put it on and it talks. It makes the Iron man voice. So we were watching something on Nick last night and Iron man commercial came on and she's so anti.

[Host]

What'd she say about it?

[Bert]

Did you have to sneak in and hide the mask that you bought Hayden?

[Jen]

No. She realized that I didn't know, and Hayden can't. Hayden knows the Iron man rules but didn't tell me about it. So I kind of got played on Saturday morning.

[Bert]

He totally did.

[Host]

Daddy, let's go get Iron man stuff.

[Jen]

And, you know, he was so clever about the way he does it. I'm glad he's not listening because I gotta give him credit. He's just like his old man that he told me that he wanted to get a book. And I'm like, if my kid wants to get a book, then, man, I'm gonna. I'm gonna bend over backwards if my kid digs reading that much. Let's get up on Saturday morning and we will go get you that book at Target. So we get in there and he talks me into one book and one toy. And I think his initial intention was to go in and get the Iron man mask. And he used the book to get in the store in order to get the Iron Man.

[Host]

Was the book an Iron man book?

[Jen]

No, it was a diary of a wimpy kid book.

[Host]

Yeah, but I don't.

[Jen]

I think it could have been any book. I think he was just. That was his game plan right here. He didn't know.

[Bert]

He put. What are you doing with Rachel Ray's 30 Minute Meals Too?

[Jen]

I don't know.

[Bert]

Let's go get my toy.

[Jen]

But she started talking about yesterday. I got to be totally honest with you. As a husband, I sort of checked out. And as a dad, I checked out because it seemed to me so ridiculous that there are already Iron man toys in the house. So when she was complaining last night that I bought this, I didn't even hear her reason why.

[Host]

Okay.

[Jen]

But I heard her say the word violence. And I know she won't allow him to play with any kind of toy guns or anything like that, but we're not going to be seeing that movie for whatever reason.

[Bert]

Really?

[Jen]

Yeah, it was explained to me last night, but.

[Host]

So you're going to basement.

[Jen]

You've been going out with me for 16 years. Sometimes you just check out. You can feel the vibrations on the ears and you up some words. But, yeah, I'm gonna miss it.

[Host]

For those allowed to go see Iron Man 2 this weekend, be sure when. Yeah, there. It's. It's kind of like a. It's like a. It's almost like a seat in a. In an. In a cage. Okay. It's like this framework. So when you're. When you're looking at Tony Stark's basement, take a look for Simcraft. And that's my friend's adventure right here in Atlanta.

[Jen]

That's very cool. Yeah, very cool. Listen, it's the vert show.

[McDonald's Announcer]

All new drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and the Mango Pineapple Refresher with popping Boba. To crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire six? All new drinks are here now at McDonald's.

[Bert]

Refreshers contain caffeine.